17-ketosteroid


17-ketosteroid

(ke-to-ster'oyd) One of a group of neutral steroids having a ketone group in carbon position 17. They are produced by the adrenal cortex and gonads and appear normally in the urine. Among them are androsterone, dehydroisoandrosterone, corticosterone, and 11-hydroxyisoandrosterone. A greater than normal or less than normal excretion in the urine is indicative of certain endocrine disorders such as adrenal adenomas or Cushing's syndrome. See: perhydrocyclopentanophenanthrene